There are plenty of areas we could point too this weekend and say it is one area the Cougs must excel in to beat Idaho State. However, that is being a little over dramatic and over simplified. For example, I could say Jeff Tuel has to have a solid performance if the Cougs want a shot. This would neglect the simple fact that Jeff Tuel has to have a solid performance in every game for the Cougs to have a shot. I could point to Wilson and Karstetter and talk of the importance of them to dominate their opposing corners but they have to do that every game. Don't forget about how key it is for the Cougs to dominate, or at least hold, the defensive line of scrimmage. Yep, another area that is important in every game so there is very little value in discussing it when the Cougs are playing an over matched Idaho State team. So what should we look to for the key to success in this game? There is only one aspect of a game that can allow a team like Idaho State to keep it close and maybe pull out a squeaker. The Cougs have to ensure their special teams are prepared for Saturday's match up.
First and foremost, the Cougar Kickoff team needs to be ready to make plays. Idaho State's Tavoy Moore has garnered preseason accolades for a reason. He is a burner that can easily take any kick to the house. Therefore, it is paramount that the Cougar Special Teams does not allow Moore to negate any WSU scores by taking a kick off to the house. If Saturday's box score shows 2 TD and 200 return yards for Moore I am going to have a bad feeling in my stomach for the rest of the season.
Second, the Cougs need to ensure they are holding the line on the field goal unit. One area of fall camp that has been swept under the rug is the inability of our FG unit to keep defenders from blocking field goals. Some of this could be due to poor snapping but in my experience if a kick is blocked it is because someone has royally screwed up. Therefore, if multiple kicks have been blocked in multiple practices it is a serious problem. In a perfect world the Cougs shouldn't have to worry about leaving points off the board against a team like Idaho State. However, given the recent history of Cougar football I am not ready to say this team is at the level they can allow that to happen.
Punt coverage will be another area of concern WSU needs to have shored up before Saturday. The reason, once again, is Tavoy Moore. The kid is just dangerous in open field. While WSU improved dramatically last season, I am not ready to say they are going to be prepared to face a punt returner like Moore. Another reason for concern is the absence of Reid Forrest. Dan Wagner is ready to step in but in Fall camp I saw more deep kicks with low hang time. Therefore, Moore is most likely going to get an opportunity to put a few moves on.
The Cougs should be able to pull this game out with some comfort. However, if we give up a couple of special teams TD's we will be in a game with an opponent we should be able to handle. Therefore, our key to success is no special team blunders!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Season Opener - Bring on the Bengals!!!!
Well, it has been too long overdue since we have been under the beautiful sunshine in Martin Stadium watching a football game in God's country. Finally, this Saturday we get to enjoy Cougar Football Saturday once again. Besides the bigger, faster, and stronger football players, Cougs fans get to enjoy the new lettering in the end zones and the new Cougar Den private gameday area under the score board. We also get to enjoy an opponent we are actually favored against. However, the mighty Bengals of Idaho State do have some players Coug Fans should be aware of. Consider this your primer of who to watch out for this Saturday.
Braedon Clayson: Clayson is a 6'6" 300lb horse of an O-Lineman who has grown into a dominant force for the Bengals. With the overall lack of size present on their O-Line he will be a man amongst boys protecting the quarterback. If the Bengals want any shot of getting any momentum against the Cougs he is going to have to own his side of the line.
Tavoy Moore: Moore is a small back at 5'6" 190lbs but his play is eerily similar to Quizz Rodgers. Tavoy plays with a chip on his shoulder and has speed to burn. In the open field he is difficult at best to bring down. If you want to get an idea of the talent the Cougs will be tasked at stopping here is a youtube clip of him. Tavoy Moore Player of the Week. It would be surprising to see him kept quiet by the best defense in the country let alone WSU.
Roderick Rumble: Rumble is a 6'2" 200lb junior WR who has emerged as the leader amongst a young receiving corps. Similar to the Cougs the Bengals are young but experienced at the WR position. Rumble is a physical receiver who has learned the tricks of playing at the collegiate level. Hopefully, Washington and Simmons are battle tested enough to shut Rumble down after practicing against Wilson and Karstetter all summer and fall.
Kevin Yost: Yost is a 6'1' 195lb QB who has some legs to go with his pocket presence. Unfortunately for Yost, his offensive line is on the smaller side and he will have to use his legs in order to avoid sacks. Yost is an accurate passer, especially on mid range throws. He is a JC transfer from Arizona and is ready to make the most of his Jr. year at Idaho State.
Jordan Monga: Monga is a 5'11" nose tackle weighing in at 275lbs. If the Bengals want to slow WSU's running game it will have to relying on his push up front. Monga plays physical and has good technique in regards to low pad level. He is the rock being flanked by a 235lb and 240lbs tackles.
AJ Storms: Storms a 6'0" 230lb was the anchor of the 2010 Bengal defense. Storms was the pride of Meridian Idaho before Darren Markle even suited up in High School He is quick, strong, and loves to put his helmet on RB's. Mitz, Galvin, and Winston will have to avoid Storms if they want to have any shot of putting together a big game.
David Harrington: Harrington is 6'2" punter with a 50 yard leg. Whatever, field position advantage the Bengals had last year was because Harrington is a boomer. It will be interesting to see how our Punt Return game plays out considering the distance Harrington can put behind the football.
The Bengals had a rough year last year but are now under the helm of the Mike Kramer era. Kramer knows a thing or two about WSU but I don't know if that will be enough to overcome the size and speed difference he will face on Saturday. The Cougs are favored by 27.5 points and on paper they should be able to deliver. However, it will be hard to tell what this game will say about the Cougs when it comes to a close on Saturday afternoon. It will be nice to be playing a team like the Idaho State Bengals instead of one of the powerhouses we have been opening with lately.
Go Cougs
Braedon Clayson: Clayson is a 6'6" 300lb horse of an O-Lineman who has grown into a dominant force for the Bengals. With the overall lack of size present on their O-Line he will be a man amongst boys protecting the quarterback. If the Bengals want any shot of getting any momentum against the Cougs he is going to have to own his side of the line.
Tavoy Moore: Moore is a small back at 5'6" 190lbs but his play is eerily similar to Quizz Rodgers. Tavoy plays with a chip on his shoulder and has speed to burn. In the open field he is difficult at best to bring down. If you want to get an idea of the talent the Cougs will be tasked at stopping here is a youtube clip of him. Tavoy Moore Player of the Week. It would be surprising to see him kept quiet by the best defense in the country let alone WSU.
Roderick Rumble: Rumble is a 6'2" 200lb junior WR who has emerged as the leader amongst a young receiving corps. Similar to the Cougs the Bengals are young but experienced at the WR position. Rumble is a physical receiver who has learned the tricks of playing at the collegiate level. Hopefully, Washington and Simmons are battle tested enough to shut Rumble down after practicing against Wilson and Karstetter all summer and fall.
Kevin Yost: Yost is a 6'1' 195lb QB who has some legs to go with his pocket presence. Unfortunately for Yost, his offensive line is on the smaller side and he will have to use his legs in order to avoid sacks. Yost is an accurate passer, especially on mid range throws. He is a JC transfer from Arizona and is ready to make the most of his Jr. year at Idaho State.
Jordan Monga: Monga is a 5'11" nose tackle weighing in at 275lbs. If the Bengals want to slow WSU's running game it will have to relying on his push up front. Monga plays physical and has good technique in regards to low pad level. He is the rock being flanked by a 235lb and 240lbs tackles.
AJ Storms: Storms a 6'0" 230lb was the anchor of the 2010 Bengal defense. Storms was the pride of Meridian Idaho before Darren Markle even suited up in High School He is quick, strong, and loves to put his helmet on RB's. Mitz, Galvin, and Winston will have to avoid Storms if they want to have any shot of putting together a big game.
David Harrington: Harrington is 6'2" punter with a 50 yard leg. Whatever, field position advantage the Bengals had last year was because Harrington is a boomer. It will be interesting to see how our Punt Return game plays out considering the distance Harrington can put behind the football.
The Bengals had a rough year last year but are now under the helm of the Mike Kramer era. Kramer knows a thing or two about WSU but I don't know if that will be enough to overcome the size and speed difference he will face on Saturday. The Cougs are favored by 27.5 points and on paper they should be able to deliver. However, it will be hard to tell what this game will say about the Cougs when it comes to a close on Saturday afternoon. It will be nice to be playing a team like the Idaho State Bengals instead of one of the powerhouses we have been opening with lately.
Go Cougs
Monday, August 29, 2011
Weekend Recap - Fan Day
As you can tell from the WSU Desktop Background Fan Day was an overall success for the Fans. It was fun having the opportunity to interact with the players and coaches. It isn't every day fans get to meet and shake hands with players on their turf. It was burner on the Martin Stadium turf though. I am guessing it was pushing 100 degrees at field level. That didn't deter the players attitudes at all. Here are some general observations after meeting the players.
Chas Sampson is a class act. You can tell he is mature and has experienced things the other players cannot understand. He was taking it all in and you could tell he was relishing his opportunity.
Brandon Rankin is amazing at going out of his way to take care of the kids. You can tell he wants to make an impression on them and it is fun to watch a 300lb man get down on their level.
Darryl Monroe seems ecstatic to be a Coug. He may have had the biggest smile out on the field. It isn't as big as Bender's but if he continues to flash it on the field a comparison could be drawn.
Dominique Williams may have the best fade on the team. While Jake Rodgers may be vying for the title with the mullet, Williams has an incredible Kid N' Play flat top. He rocks it too. If anyone has the opportunity to meet him take the time.
Marcus Mason looks bigger than I was expecting him too up close. He seems excited to have the opportunity to play and excited to be a Coug.
Joe Kaleta is quiet as usual. I joked with him about Lobster Ladie's Man quote to which he responded, "I hope my girlfriend doesn't read Cougfan."
Wade Jacobsen enjoys the opportunity to interact with fans and it shows. I was carrying around the Martin Stadium picture to get signed and he practically tackled me to sign it. He is alot of fun and looks bigger too.
David Gonzales in person appears to have had a serious physical transformation. It looks as though the weights were kind to him in the off season. He was business as usual on the field Saturday.
Jared Karstetter acted like the season pro he is at these events. Jared is a Coug that you just have to root for and hopefully makes it to the next level so he can represent Cougar Nation their too.
Jeff Tuel handles the attention nicely. I could imagine it must be overwhelming because he is probably the most recognized player on the team.
Chester Sua was with Monroe and Mizell when I got his autograph. You can tell he is still adjusting to the attention he was getting. However, he looks the part already.
Dan Wagner seems to be enjoying his new role too. I asked him we were going to see him throwing some bombs during fake punts to which he said, "I may still have a few throws up my sleeve."
Ricky Galvin is just compact. I asked him about his arm and he said he thinks it is stronger because of all the pins and plates. He is ready for his debut redux.
If anyone has any additional questions or specifics about the players just leave a comment and I will reply back. It was a great day and I would recommend you should try to make a fan day in Pullman sometime.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
WSU Desktop Background
If your computer cannot stretch the image without distortion email me crimsongoggles@jlmsolution.com and I will email you the high quality image.
Or
You should be able to grab it off the Facebook Page for Crimson Goggles.
Friday, August 26, 2011
No Podcast this week but a Quick Look at the D-Line
Most of us are old enough to have lived through the three ten win seasons, though most of this team were just starting pee wee pads at the time. However, those teams were always built around solid D-Lines. I always remember my Dad telling me about how WSU has to recruit tight ends and allow them to develop into great D-Lineman for us to be successful. Therefore, it is a process for us to become solid on the D-Line. While I wonder if my dad actually knows much about the game of football this is one area he seems to be right about.
What did the D-Line of Jeremy Williams, Tai Tupai, Josh Shavies, D.D Acholuno, Isaac Brown, and Mkisto Bruce have in common. Those five all were red shirted. The result was an extra year in the weight room to build the character and strength necessary to compete in the Pac 10. Now look at Anthony Laurenzi, Toni Pole, Brandon Rankin, Travis Long, and Coeper/Stormo and besides Rankin and Long it is built with redshirts. Of course, this years line is still younger than the 2003 line but this is the first year in a while that we are not relying on true frosh to fill the line.
In fact, if you look at the line through the Crimson Goggles it might have warped into a team strength in the off season. Anyone that watched fall practice last year knew that Toni Pole was going to develop into a Pac 12 D-Lineman quickly. However, it has been the emergence of the true Coug players which has made this unit a strength. I say the true Cougs because we have a long history of players stepping up to the plate and becoming studs that no one else thought would develop into anything. Last year it was the emergence of Anthony Laurenzi at the end of the year. This year it appears Stormo and Coeper decided they were ready to do anything to get on the field and compete. Competing is exactly what they have done and their emergence has made our Defensive Line deep.
Rankin, Sampson, and Clayton will all be seeing some time on the field this year and in Rankin's case I think it is safe to say we have a back up D-Lineman that could start on other Pac 12 teams. Sampson is a work in progress but his size and maturity could make him into a beast by years end. While Clayton gets little coverage he has done all of the little things right and will continue to push for his playing time too.
Ian Knight and Lenard Williams have also been pleasant surprises to provide depth at the defensive end position. Ian Knight may be one of our best recruits in last years class because he appears at the moment to be Travis Long's back up as a speed rushing end. Which means we will be able to rotate Long and Knight to provide a consistent push off the end all year long. Don't count Lenard Williams out of the mix either. He shows some serious flashes but is still getting use to the Pac 12 talent level. I could see him being a contender by mid season meaning we have the bodies to be physical and fast all year long.
Now let's look at David Davis, TJ Poloai, and Darryl Paulo. These three freshmen are probably in line to redshirt this season. David Davis is a bull rusher who is a little undersized at the moment. He doesn't play undersized and shows serious burst of strength when necessary. TJ Poloai looks to be the most game ready at the moment. He is only slightly undersized but has done a great job of picking up Coach Howard's techniques. Darryl Paulo, who played LB in high school, has the frame to be an absolute beast. A year in the weight program and he could have gains similar to Jake Rodgers. They make the future very bright considering next spring we will have three competitive redshirt DT's on the roster.
It is easy to say the sky is the limit for this group considering what we have lived through since 2005. I like to think of this group like the LB unit from last year. They are young but loaded with potential. This will not be as much as a learning year for this group but a year to gain valuable experience of what it takes to compete in the Pac 12. They will be competitive, make plays, and hold their own. With the talent on the roster at the moment though, we will have a solid line for years to come starting right now.
What did the D-Line of Jeremy Williams, Tai Tupai, Josh Shavies, D.D Acholuno, Isaac Brown, and Mkisto Bruce have in common. Those five all were red shirted. The result was an extra year in the weight room to build the character and strength necessary to compete in the Pac 10. Now look at Anthony Laurenzi, Toni Pole, Brandon Rankin, Travis Long, and Coeper/Stormo and besides Rankin and Long it is built with redshirts. Of course, this years line is still younger than the 2003 line but this is the first year in a while that we are not relying on true frosh to fill the line.
In fact, if you look at the line through the Crimson Goggles it might have warped into a team strength in the off season. Anyone that watched fall practice last year knew that Toni Pole was going to develop into a Pac 12 D-Lineman quickly. However, it has been the emergence of the true Coug players which has made this unit a strength. I say the true Cougs because we have a long history of players stepping up to the plate and becoming studs that no one else thought would develop into anything. Last year it was the emergence of Anthony Laurenzi at the end of the year. This year it appears Stormo and Coeper decided they were ready to do anything to get on the field and compete. Competing is exactly what they have done and their emergence has made our Defensive Line deep.
Rankin, Sampson, and Clayton will all be seeing some time on the field this year and in Rankin's case I think it is safe to say we have a back up D-Lineman that could start on other Pac 12 teams. Sampson is a work in progress but his size and maturity could make him into a beast by years end. While Clayton gets little coverage he has done all of the little things right and will continue to push for his playing time too.
Ian Knight and Lenard Williams have also been pleasant surprises to provide depth at the defensive end position. Ian Knight may be one of our best recruits in last years class because he appears at the moment to be Travis Long's back up as a speed rushing end. Which means we will be able to rotate Long and Knight to provide a consistent push off the end all year long. Don't count Lenard Williams out of the mix either. He shows some serious flashes but is still getting use to the Pac 12 talent level. I could see him being a contender by mid season meaning we have the bodies to be physical and fast all year long.
Now let's look at David Davis, TJ Poloai, and Darryl Paulo. These three freshmen are probably in line to redshirt this season. David Davis is a bull rusher who is a little undersized at the moment. He doesn't play undersized and shows serious burst of strength when necessary. TJ Poloai looks to be the most game ready at the moment. He is only slightly undersized but has done a great job of picking up Coach Howard's techniques. Darryl Paulo, who played LB in high school, has the frame to be an absolute beast. A year in the weight program and he could have gains similar to Jake Rodgers. They make the future very bright considering next spring we will have three competitive redshirt DT's on the roster.
It is easy to say the sky is the limit for this group considering what we have lived through since 2005. I like to think of this group like the LB unit from last year. They are young but loaded with potential. This will not be as much as a learning year for this group but a year to gain valuable experience of what it takes to compete in the Pac 12. They will be competitive, make plays, and hold their own. With the talent on the roster at the moment though, we will have a solid line for years to come starting right now.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Coug Scrimmage -- Special Teams may need a Short Bus
In the interest of disclosure I was only present for the first 60 minutes of the scrimmage. While it is always a pleasure to be under the lights in Martin Stadium I decided when BJ Guerra started snapping the ball to Cody Clements it was almost over. So here is the quick story.
The scrimmage started off a little flat. The opening kick off was fumbled. However, the 1 defense quickly handled the 2 offense. Bring in the punt team and the result was Ricky Galvin fumbling and quickly diving on the punt for no return.
Thank goodness the Jeff Tuel and the first team offense could give me something to get behind. They didn't disappoint either. A quick screen pass led to a solid run and before you knew it was 3rd and goal. TD Karstetter, but it was called back due to a false start. Furney nails the FG.
That was the gist of the scrimmage tonight. For every great play their was a boneheaded play. Two field goals were blocked and one punt was almost blocked. A great catch was negated by holding penalty.
Their were some very bright spots though. Jeff Tuel looked pretty solid considering it was obvious he was slightly off tonight. It is nice to have a QB that can still get the job done when they are a little off. Marquess Wilson, Karstetter, Barton, and Kristoff Williams all did well. Though I think Williams didn't appear as physical as the rest but he did redshirt last year.
Carl Winston looked like he is ready to show us what he plays like when he is healthy. He looked great during one series. First hitting the hole and fighting for yards. Then on a 3rd down putting his shoulder down and earning the critical yards necessary for a first down. The first down allowed Jeff Tuel to hit Isiah Barton for a TD strike later in the drive.
Did the Cougs solidify my gut feeling we are going to have a solid year this year. Not really but it was a scrimmage. Without getting too much into detail it was hard to tell if they were framing ISU Bengal because of the different defensive formations that were on display. Who knows but we still have two weeks to sharpen up.
Starting Defense
DE Travis Long
DT Anthony Laurenzi
DT Toni Pole
DE Adam Coeper/Skyler Stormo
LB Alex Hoffman-Ellis
LB CJ Mizell
LB Sekope Kafusi
CB Daniel Simmons
SS Tyree Toomer
FS Deonne Buccannon
CB Damonte Horton
Starting Offense
LT Wade Jacobson
LG John Fullington
C Andrew Roxas
RG BJ Guerra
RT David Gonzales
QB Jeff Tuel
RB Logwone Mitz
WR Marquess Wilson
WR Jared Karstetter
WR Isiah Barton
TE Andre Lintz
Kick Returners
Ricky Galvin, Marcus Mason, Isiah Barton
Kicker
Andrew Furney
Punter
Dan Wagner
The scrimmage started off a little flat. The opening kick off was fumbled. However, the 1 defense quickly handled the 2 offense. Bring in the punt team and the result was Ricky Galvin fumbling and quickly diving on the punt for no return.
Thank goodness the Jeff Tuel and the first team offense could give me something to get behind. They didn't disappoint either. A quick screen pass led to a solid run and before you knew it was 3rd and goal. TD Karstetter, but it was called back due to a false start. Furney nails the FG.
That was the gist of the scrimmage tonight. For every great play their was a boneheaded play. Two field goals were blocked and one punt was almost blocked. A great catch was negated by holding penalty.
Their were some very bright spots though. Jeff Tuel looked pretty solid considering it was obvious he was slightly off tonight. It is nice to have a QB that can still get the job done when they are a little off. Marquess Wilson, Karstetter, Barton, and Kristoff Williams all did well. Though I think Williams didn't appear as physical as the rest but he did redshirt last year.
Carl Winston looked like he is ready to show us what he plays like when he is healthy. He looked great during one series. First hitting the hole and fighting for yards. Then on a 3rd down putting his shoulder down and earning the critical yards necessary for a first down. The first down allowed Jeff Tuel to hit Isiah Barton for a TD strike later in the drive.
Did the Cougs solidify my gut feeling we are going to have a solid year this year. Not really but it was a scrimmage. Without getting too much into detail it was hard to tell if they were framing ISU Bengal because of the different defensive formations that were on display. Who knows but we still have two weeks to sharpen up.
Starting Defense
DE Travis Long
DT Anthony Laurenzi
DT Toni Pole
DE Adam Coeper/Skyler Stormo
LB Alex Hoffman-Ellis
LB CJ Mizell
LB Sekope Kafusi
CB Daniel Simmons
SS Tyree Toomer
FS Deonne Buccannon
CB Damonte Horton
Starting Offense
LT Wade Jacobson
LG John Fullington
C Andrew Roxas
RG BJ Guerra
RT David Gonzales
QB Jeff Tuel
RB Logwone Mitz
WR Marquess Wilson
WR Jared Karstetter
WR Isiah Barton
TE Andre Lintz
Kick Returners
Ricky Galvin, Marcus Mason, Isiah Barton
Kicker
Andrew Furney
Punter
Dan Wagner
WSU and the Magic of a Jr. Quarterback Campaign
Looking back at WSU it is easy to see why it has been dubbed as QBU at times. We have a history of some pretty talented QB's. The equation has usually resulted in the Cougs winning when they have a veteran signal caller at the helm. Outside of Alex Brink, the Cougar statistical leader, the pattern seems to explode when when the signal callers hit their junior season.
I will only explore some of our recent history but I am in no ways downplaying the accomplishments of Thompson, Rypien, Rosenbach, etc. However, I have a very fond memory of being in Section 26 when Ryan Leaf took on the ASU Sun Devils in Martin Stadium when he was a sophomore. I was watching the game with one of my good friends and anyone who was there would have thought the two of us obviously found some booze pregame. I was a frosh in Highschool but I knew Ryan Leaf was something I hadn't seen in a while. The result was Leaf leading us to an amazing season in 1998.
Fast forward to the Cougs playing Idaho when Gesser was a freshman and I saw the same type of spark. I remember sitting outside of the SAE house in 2000 debating how good the Cougs were going to be the following year. The response was that I was drunk if I thought the Cougs were going to go to a major bowl. The result was Gesser leading us to a 10 win season in his Junior Campaign and following that up with a Heisman run and the Rose Bowl in 2002.
So why do I think we have a realistic shot at another special season this year? Jeff Tuel is entering his junior campaign and bringing a WR's corps that could be one of the best to play at WSU. It isn't just Tuel's junior year that has me optimistic. I had the opportunity to watch Tuel in in his first practices as a Coug. Something about him stood out and it was obvious he was going to become a man amongst boys. Well here we are jumping into his Junior season and the stars are beginning to align once again. Hopefully, the magic of our past takes hold for Jeff Tuel and we will all witness the emergence of Cougar Football once again!
I will only explore some of our recent history but I am in no ways downplaying the accomplishments of Thompson, Rypien, Rosenbach, etc. However, I have a very fond memory of being in Section 26 when Ryan Leaf took on the ASU Sun Devils in Martin Stadium when he was a sophomore. I was watching the game with one of my good friends and anyone who was there would have thought the two of us obviously found some booze pregame. I was a frosh in Highschool but I knew Ryan Leaf was something I hadn't seen in a while. The result was Leaf leading us to an amazing season in 1998.
Fast forward to the Cougs playing Idaho when Gesser was a freshman and I saw the same type of spark. I remember sitting outside of the SAE house in 2000 debating how good the Cougs were going to be the following year. The response was that I was drunk if I thought the Cougs were going to go to a major bowl. The result was Gesser leading us to a 10 win season in his Junior Campaign and following that up with a Heisman run and the Rose Bowl in 2002.
So why do I think we have a realistic shot at another special season this year? Jeff Tuel is entering his junior campaign and bringing a WR's corps that could be one of the best to play at WSU. It isn't just Tuel's junior year that has me optimistic. I had the opportunity to watch Tuel in in his first practices as a Coug. Something about him stood out and it was obvious he was going to become a man amongst boys. Well here we are jumping into his Junior season and the stars are beginning to align once again. Hopefully, the magic of our past takes hold for Jeff Tuel and we will all witness the emergence of Cougar Football once again!
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Keys to Success - Keep Their Heads into Practice and Not the Tail.
The Cougs have quietly put together quite a productive camp. However, that seemed to shift yesterday when the Cougs suffered a terrible practice after their first day of school. I can't say I blame them too much. There was more coeds catching my eye than big hits being thrown around at practice. Not the end of the world for an occasional slip up but it cannot be sustained over the long term. Therefore, with the first day behind the Cougs they can get over the tail parade and get back to season prep.
This shouldn't be too concerning considering the amount of work that has taken place with this team since the end of last season. You could look at the consistency with Tuel and his receivers to see they haven't taken much time off at all. However, the interesting story will be coming out of the D-Line. It magically transformed from a position of concern to a spot that is turning out to be quite solid. Laurenzi, Pole, Rankin, Clayton, and Sampson will make up the interior lineman and I can't remember the last time we had a 5 man rotation at DT.
Coming out of spring it looked like it Knight and Long had the defensive end position locked down. However, fall camp has changed the complexion with Stormo, Coerper, Lenard Williams, and Pu'Robinson (when healthy) all rotating in and out of the spot opposite Long. The depth is nice but it will also be an opportunity to disrupt the other teams game planning against our defense. Long and Knight could provide a speed rush nightmare. Long and Stormo could provide a bull rush with solid coverage. Fall camp started with a paper thin defensive line and now has morphed into a pretty solid unit.
This weeks Key to Success is for them to keep their minds in practice and the D-Line rotation healthy.
This shouldn't be too concerning considering the amount of work that has taken place with this team since the end of last season. You could look at the consistency with Tuel and his receivers to see they haven't taken much time off at all. However, the interesting story will be coming out of the D-Line. It magically transformed from a position of concern to a spot that is turning out to be quite solid. Laurenzi, Pole, Rankin, Clayton, and Sampson will make up the interior lineman and I can't remember the last time we had a 5 man rotation at DT.
Coming out of spring it looked like it Knight and Long had the defensive end position locked down. However, fall camp has changed the complexion with Stormo, Coerper, Lenard Williams, and Pu'Robinson (when healthy) all rotating in and out of the spot opposite Long. The depth is nice but it will also be an opportunity to disrupt the other teams game planning against our defense. Long and Knight could provide a speed rush nightmare. Long and Stormo could provide a bull rush with solid coverage. Fall camp started with a paper thin defensive line and now has morphed into a pretty solid unit.
This weeks Key to Success is for them to keep their minds in practice and the D-Line rotation healthy.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Around the Horn -- Tweaking Pac 12 Headlines
As a Pac 12 junkie I follow alot of sources trying to see how the Cougs will match up against their competition. I am always amazed to read some of the headlines coming from the other schools. Sometimes I get the distinct feeling that their writers are wearing their own set of goggles. Therefore, I will help by tweaking their stories with new headlines.
Each one of these headlines were gleamed from Ted Miller's ESPN Pac 12 blog.
Arizona
http://azstarnet.com/sports/football/college/wildcats/article_df837b60-af15-52f2-aac6-e0c57d8df9e3.html. After 2010 problems Wade Turns Corner
Retitled: 2010 was bad but hey 2011 is a new year right?
You know it is a problem when the beginning of a piece is riddled with reminders about the poor season Wade turned in in 2010. So when he intercepted Foles twice during the scrimmage is that an indication of Wade stepping up at corner or Foles taking a step back at QB?
ASU
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/asu/articles/2011/08/22/20110822asu-defensive-tackle-corey-adams-camp.html Adams Wows in Camp
Retitled: Miracle Wade is actually healthy
Corey Wade could be a game changer for the Sun Devils this season at DT. Mainly because he will be playing without injury. Back problems and a car accident has sidelined him for his career thus far. So he looks pretty sharp playing with just a slight hamstring injury.
Colorado
http://www.buffzone.com/ci_18733507 John Embree turns to CU Buffs Freshman
Retitled: Embree didn't sign up for this
When an article states he isn't afraid to play freshmen it usually means there wasn't much there to begin with. If anyone can sympathize it is us Coug Fans.
That is it for now. We will cover more during the podcast on Friday!
Each one of these headlines were gleamed from Ted Miller's ESPN Pac 12 blog.
Arizona
http://azstarnet.com/sports/football/college/wildcats/article_df837b60-af15-52f2-aac6-e0c57d8df9e3.html. After 2010 problems Wade Turns Corner
Retitled: 2010 was bad but hey 2011 is a new year right?
You know it is a problem when the beginning of a piece is riddled with reminders about the poor season Wade turned in in 2010. So when he intercepted Foles twice during the scrimmage is that an indication of Wade stepping up at corner or Foles taking a step back at QB?
ASU
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/asu/articles/2011/08/22/20110822asu-defensive-tackle-corey-adams-camp.html Adams Wows in Camp
Retitled: Miracle Wade is actually healthy
Corey Wade could be a game changer for the Sun Devils this season at DT. Mainly because he will be playing without injury. Back problems and a car accident has sidelined him for his career thus far. So he looks pretty sharp playing with just a slight hamstring injury.
Colorado
http://www.buffzone.com/ci_18733507 John Embree turns to CU Buffs Freshman
Retitled: Embree didn't sign up for this
When an article states he isn't afraid to play freshmen it usually means there wasn't much there to begin with. If anyone can sympathize it is us Coug Fans.
That is it for now. We will cover more during the podcast on Friday!
Monday, August 22, 2011
Weekend Recap - One Intense Lentil Festival Practice
While the season is still a couple of weeks out the Cougs continue to piece together the best fall camp I have seen since I was in college at WSU in 2002. Before we get too far into the action I feel it is important to point out a couple of welcome surprises on Sunday morning. The first was a Joe Kaleta sighting. The walk on from New York is still with the team and polite as usual. He actually has added some size to his frame too. Making him a super beast. The second welcome surprise was Alex Mitchell and Rahmel Dockery watching from the sideline.
Another area I would like to point out is how this team has morphed itself into a squad you can feel good to root for again. All of these kids have a bunch of character and fit into the Cougar mantra. They displayed this well during the Lentil Festival parade down the main street of Pullman. Ledgerwood spent a fair amount of time catering to the crowd and Rankin could be spotted as usual taking time to smile at the kids. They marched in their Crimson jersey's and with the improvement of team size it looked like most of them were wearing their pads as well.
With those notes out of the way lets dive into the football a bit. To begin with there are a few Cougs who were sidelined with minor injuries. Jake Rodgers was riding the bike but doing so with his mullet flowing in the wind. It looks like it is a small hamstring. In fact of the five guys on the sideline with injuries no one seems to be on the exercise bike for the long haul. The main scrimmage time the defense was switching between prevent and their base defense. Mizell, Sekope, and Hoffman-Ellis are the real deal LB corps. Ledgerwood, Markle, and Monroe are more than adequate running with second unit. Chester Sua may also be in the mix as well. He is pure raw talent at linebacker.
Our D-Line, which was a preseason concern, has magically transformed into an area that the Cougs are showing some quality depth. With the emergence of the Stormo and Coerper the Cougs have alot of depth and talent at the ends. Travis Long continues to own his spot but Ian Knight, Lenard Williams, Stormo, Coerper, and Pu Robinson (if he returns) provide quality depth off the edge. At the Tackles spot we have a solid five man rotation with Laurenzi and Pole starting and they can be swapped with Rankin, Sampson, Clayton. The freshman TJ Polalai, David Davis, and Daryl Paulo are showing alot of talent but could definitely benefit from a red shirt year. The wild card at DT will be Alex Mitchell once he is cleared.
The defense had their way with the offense for the majority of practice unless they were matched up against Jeff Tuel. Tuel is having a camp that makes you think he belongs on a different level with those around him. If he stays healthy he is going to have a monster year. They staring offense has a grasp on Sturdy's playbook and it should result in alot of scoring.
The main question I get asked is about the running game. Here is the easy answer. Mitz is showing he can handle his assignments just fine. I see him getting 20-25 carries a game with Galvin getting 15-20. They are both very explosive and talented but Mitz is built like a Pac 12 RB where Galvin could use another year of development before he is an every down back. Marcus Mason is making alot of noise but he is a distant third behind Mitz and Galvin. Another back that is showing some promise is Carl Winston. It wouldn't surprise me if he siezed and opportunity and broke out with a big game or two this year.
Another question I get asked is about Stormo at DE and if he really should be running with the 1's. The answer to that question is a bit complicated. Stormo has really began to look comfortable at DE. Travis Long is being used more as a rush end and Stormo is very good at securing his end in those situations. Stormo is also proving to be extremely good when dropping into coverage, probably due to his understanding of the TE position. He also moves very well laterally which allows him to stretch plays out to the sideline. On Sunday, he basically chased Galvin into the sideline and if you have seen Galvin's speed you understand how impressive that was. It is obvious that Long has his end locked down but Coerper, Stormo, Knight, and Williams are all very good back ups. By the end of the year it will be interesting to see who rises to the top at the end opposite long.
The final question I will address is one that was asked about Cody Clements. No he is not ready to back up Tuel yet. The back up to Tuel will most likely be Lobster because of what he does off the field. Halliday is also grasping the offense well and could unseat Lobster but only time will tell. The book on Cody Clements is he is young. Jeff Tuel was slightly sharper with his throws than Clements was when he was frosh. However, Clements does have a strong arm, quick legs, and he plays with a ton of confidence. It should be an interesting battle in two years to see who replaces Tuel between Halliday and Clements.
That is it for the recap, keep sending questions, and we will look at what they are saying around the northwest tomorrow.
Another area I would like to point out is how this team has morphed itself into a squad you can feel good to root for again. All of these kids have a bunch of character and fit into the Cougar mantra. They displayed this well during the Lentil Festival parade down the main street of Pullman. Ledgerwood spent a fair amount of time catering to the crowd and Rankin could be spotted as usual taking time to smile at the kids. They marched in their Crimson jersey's and with the improvement of team size it looked like most of them were wearing their pads as well.
With those notes out of the way lets dive into the football a bit. To begin with there are a few Cougs who were sidelined with minor injuries. Jake Rodgers was riding the bike but doing so with his mullet flowing in the wind. It looks like it is a small hamstring. In fact of the five guys on the sideline with injuries no one seems to be on the exercise bike for the long haul. The main scrimmage time the defense was switching between prevent and their base defense. Mizell, Sekope, and Hoffman-Ellis are the real deal LB corps. Ledgerwood, Markle, and Monroe are more than adequate running with second unit. Chester Sua may also be in the mix as well. He is pure raw talent at linebacker.
Our D-Line, which was a preseason concern, has magically transformed into an area that the Cougs are showing some quality depth. With the emergence of the Stormo and Coerper the Cougs have alot of depth and talent at the ends. Travis Long continues to own his spot but Ian Knight, Lenard Williams, Stormo, Coerper, and Pu Robinson (if he returns) provide quality depth off the edge. At the Tackles spot we have a solid five man rotation with Laurenzi and Pole starting and they can be swapped with Rankin, Sampson, Clayton. The freshman TJ Polalai, David Davis, and Daryl Paulo are showing alot of talent but could definitely benefit from a red shirt year. The wild card at DT will be Alex Mitchell once he is cleared.
The defense had their way with the offense for the majority of practice unless they were matched up against Jeff Tuel. Tuel is having a camp that makes you think he belongs on a different level with those around him. If he stays healthy he is going to have a monster year. They staring offense has a grasp on Sturdy's playbook and it should result in alot of scoring.
The main question I get asked is about the running game. Here is the easy answer. Mitz is showing he can handle his assignments just fine. I see him getting 20-25 carries a game with Galvin getting 15-20. They are both very explosive and talented but Mitz is built like a Pac 12 RB where Galvin could use another year of development before he is an every down back. Marcus Mason is making alot of noise but he is a distant third behind Mitz and Galvin. Another back that is showing some promise is Carl Winston. It wouldn't surprise me if he siezed and opportunity and broke out with a big game or two this year.
Another question I get asked is about Stormo at DE and if he really should be running with the 1's. The answer to that question is a bit complicated. Stormo has really began to look comfortable at DE. Travis Long is being used more as a rush end and Stormo is very good at securing his end in those situations. Stormo is also proving to be extremely good when dropping into coverage, probably due to his understanding of the TE position. He also moves very well laterally which allows him to stretch plays out to the sideline. On Sunday, he basically chased Galvin into the sideline and if you have seen Galvin's speed you understand how impressive that was. It is obvious that Long has his end locked down but Coerper, Stormo, Knight, and Williams are all very good back ups. By the end of the year it will be interesting to see who rises to the top at the end opposite long.
The final question I will address is one that was asked about Cody Clements. No he is not ready to back up Tuel yet. The back up to Tuel will most likely be Lobster because of what he does off the field. Halliday is also grasping the offense well and could unseat Lobster but only time will tell. The book on Cody Clements is he is young. Jeff Tuel was slightly sharper with his throws than Clements was when he was frosh. However, Clements does have a strong arm, quick legs, and he plays with a ton of confidence. It should be an interesting battle in two years to see who replaces Tuel between Halliday and Clements.
That is it for the recap, keep sending questions, and we will look at what they are saying around the northwest tomorrow.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Kicking off the Season of Cougar Coverage Beginning Monday
While it has been too long of an off season for Cougar Football fans it is finally time to enjoy another wonderful season of Cougar Football on the Palouse. Why do I say wonderful? Well, to start with the Cougs are a different team this year. They have put the work in during the off season and the Paul Wulff recruiting classes are beginning to blossom. While the team is still brutally young, the character that has been added to the program is taking the lead. This team is going to be special. The weekly blog schedule will be as follows.
Monday: Weekend Recaps
Tuesday: Around the Horn
Wednesday: Key to Success
Thursday: Crimson Kool Aid Predictions
Friday: Crimson Goggle Podcast
Monday: Weekend Recaps
Tuesday: Around the Horn
Wednesday: Key to Success
Thursday: Crimson Kool Aid Predictions
Friday: Crimson Goggle Podcast
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